Zarautz

Zarautz is a coastal town in Gipuzkoa, part of the Urola Kosta area, nestled at the foot of Mount Santa Bárbara with the Cantabrian Sea as its northern boundary. Although formally founded in 1237, archaeological evidence suggests the site was already inhabited as early as the 9th century, giving Zarautz a history spanning well over a millennium.

The beach is the town's most prominent feature: 2,500 metres of fine sand framed by the cliffs of Santa Bárbara and Mollarri, and animated by a seafront promenade lined with cafés and terraces. The quality of its waves has made Zarautz a regular stop on the world surf circuit. At the eastern end of the beach, beside the mouth of the Iñurritza river, lies the most extensive dune field on the Gipuzkoan coast, designated a protected biotope and accessible via a boardwalk.

The historic centre holds a notable monumental heritage: the parish church of Santa María la Real, Franciscan and Poor Clare convents, the Narros palace, Torre Luzea and the Zarauz tower-house, among other buildings of architectural interest. Local cuisine revolves around fresh fish and farmhouse produce, typically accompanied by txakoli, a light white wine produced in the area under its own designation of origin.